Anniversary Mass

Saint_Mel

Wasn't sure whether to post this here or in the Religion forums as I didnt
know if it was confined to 1 religion etc, but just wanted to ask what's
peoples opinions on anniversary mass and having to pay for them?

Always something that bugged my but had totally forgot about it until a
recent family anniversary mass. When it was over, my mother had to go
and pay the priest for mentioning the members of the family who had passed
away. Cant remember how much it was, €30 or €40, but it was basicially
payment for him saying ... "This mass is for all the deceased members
of the <insert name here> family"

Is this the norm? To me it seems like a total con, as in, your prayers will only
get to your loved ones if you pay us?

(I'm not into the whole religion thing so dont know the in's and out's of it. I just attend weddings/funerals/anniversaries out of respect to their beliefs)

cooperguy

Its not that if you dont pay your prayers wont get heard or whatever its that the priest has to live too and without money to buy food etc. it would be fairly hard. Therefore people pay him for his services

beans

€30 for a one-liner? I'm in the wrong business...

In my opinion it's in very poor taste, but it doesn't surprise me. Gotta get funds from somewhere. I'm not au faix with Christian customs, so I can't say whether it's the norm, but just from a humanist standpoint capitalising on another person's loss... not cool

humbert

Seems a bit screwed up to me. They get money in the church collections, expecting money for something like that is something only the church would have the gall to do.

_feedback_

we have a mass every year for me mam. as far as i know, it's not so much a charge but you're kinda obliged to give a donation or whatever...

nesf

Moved from AH. As far as I know it's the norm though.

Saint_Mel

Cheers for the replies, it's something that's bugged me for years!

If people want to meet and pray to remember someone they
shouldn't feel obliged to pay for it. (in my opinion)

biko

cooperguy wrote:

Therefore people pay him for his services

Is it a protestant priest? Get it? "services"

Random

I really never understood anniversary mass ... waste of time. Especially all the people who avoid mass all year long and then head off to one.

WHy not have a family meal? family party?

kelly1

Saint_Mel wrote:

Wasn't sure whether to post this here or in the Religion forums as I didnt
know if it was confined to 1 religion etc, but just wanted to ask what's
peoples opinions on anniversary mass and having to pay for them?

Always something that bugged my but had totally forgot about it until a
recent family anniversary mass. When it was over, my mother had to go
and pay the priest for mentioning the members of the family who had passed
away. Cant remember how much it was, €30 or €40, but it was basicially
payment for him saying ... "This mass is for all the deceased members
of the <insert name here> family"

Is this the norm? To me it seems like a total con, as in, your prayers will only
get to your loved ones if you pay us?

(I'm not into the whole religion thing so dont know the in's and out's of it. I just attend weddings/funerals/anniversaries out of respect to their beliefs)

Hello Mel, here's some info on Mass stipends:

http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=5203

God bless,
Noel.

kelly1

ciaranfo wrote:

I really never understood anniversary mass ... waste of time. Especially all the people who avoid mass all year long and then head off to one.

WHy not have a family meal? family party?

Hello Ciaran, the purpose of an anniversary Mass is to offer a Mass for the intentions of a soul who could potentially be in purgatory. If the soul is not in purgatory, it's is not a waste because the merits of the blood of Christ will be applied to other souls in purgatory. It's a doctrine of the Church that prayers for the Holy Souls are effective in releasing souls from purgatory. The Mass however is far more effective than thousands of prayers because in the Mass, Christ appeals to the Father for mercy on our behalf.

Here's a link showing scriptural support for the doctrine of purgatory:

http://www.scripturecatholic.com/purgatory.html

God bless,
Noel.

Saint_Mel

kelly1 wrote:

the purpose of an anniversary Mass is to offer a Mass for the intentions of a soul who could potentially be in purgatory.

Hi Noel,
Thanks for the reply. Quick question on the above though.
Did the Pope not do away with purgatory recently?
Does this make the reasoning behind an anniversary mass obsolete?

kelly1

Saint_Mel wrote:

Hi Noel,
Thanks for the reply. Quick question on the above though.
Did the Pope not do away with purgatory recently?
Does this make the reasoning behind an anniversary mass obsolete?

No the recent discussion was about Limbo. I think it's fair the say that the Pope didn't do away with Limbo. He's basically saying that it's more likely God would allow unbaptized infants to enter Heaven on account of His infinite mercy. There is no Church doctrine on the fate of infants who die before baptism - only theories.

God bless,
Noel.

Saint_Mel

Ah, cheers for clearing that up